When all is said and done, it likely won’t be long before Connor Bedard becomes one of the faces of the NHL. The much-hyped No. 1 overall pick is expected to follow in the footsteps of other impeccably talented centers like Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. Eventually, he should revitalize his Chicago Blackhawks back to contending prominence.
But on Tuesday, during Bedard’s NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the rookie phenom was purely centered on the emotions of playing his first-ever professional hockey game. Even when the Blackhawks ended up winning 4-2 — led by a sterling individual performance from Bedard — he didn’t seem all that enthused about having the debut behind him and looking forward to what’s next.
At the very least, instead of celebrating, Bedard actually seemed kind of sad that his first game was in the rearview mirror:
Connor Bedard on having his first game behind him: "It's a moment you think of all your life and now it's already done. That part's kinda sad."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) October 11, 2023
Yeah, that is … not the reaction I’d expected from someone many expect to run roughshod on the NHL scene for years. But I do find it relatable. Who among us hasn’t built up an important moment in our lives for a long time only to find that reality doesn’t end up matching the vision in our head? It happens all the time. It’s part of the human experience. Getting too excited in advance or not having enough of our dreams is just a part of life.
I have little doubt Bedard won’t feel similarly once he starts racking up various vital milestones, like his first point and first goal, because they won’t stop coming. And that’s life, too.